Apparatus for the separation of finely-divided solids from liquids.



J. V. N. ORRu APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION 0F FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5,1913.

Patented Ap1n20, 1915B 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. V. N. DORR. APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION 0F FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS FROIVILIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE 5, I93. vym Patented Apr. 20, T915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IMI

Y 1. v. N. Donn. APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION 0F FINELY DVIDED SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS.

m APPLICATION FI LED JUNE 5, 1913. T fm f Patented A101220, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

)DNI llllllllllllll I. v. II. BORR. APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION 0F FIANELY DIVIDED SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS.

` APPLICATION FILED IuIIE 5, |913. I I 1I Patented Apr. 2o, 19.15

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4* I. V. N. D'ORR.

APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION OF FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS FROM LIOUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5.1913.

Patented A101220, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

A rmfm/Eys V. N. DORR.

APPARATUS FOR THE SEPARATION 0F FINELY DIVIDED SOLIDS FROM LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5, 1913. v

- Patented A101220, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 'rasanten a ne 31: atin'r onninit ,runat v. n. nenn., or nnnvnn, ooiionnno.

MIPRATUS FOR THE SIIEIIIIudilltlll'v OIF JEINELY-DIVIDED SOLIDS FROM LIQUIIDS.

vmake and use the saine.

'Ihis inventionrelates to apparatus for eftecting therapid separation, by a process of settling, of nely divided solid particles from large volumes of liquid in which they are suspended, so as to produce on the one hand a continuous overflow of clear liquid and on the other hand an underflow or sulosurface withdrawal of the solid particles mixed with a relatively small proportion of the liquid, in the form of a thickened slime or pulp. 'Ihe invention is particularly applicable to the handling of the large volumes of Water used in the 4water-concentration of ores containing valuable minerals. 'Ihis water carries in suspension quantities of linely divided solids, small in proportion to they quantity of water but great in the aggregate, and containing substantial metallurgical values in the recovery of which economy of handling is of prime importance; In many plants, moreover, the cps# of the water is such that its clarication or 're-use is essential to profitable operation. It

is the custom noW to recover the water and thicken the slimes or pulp in a multiplicity of small settling tanks, either cones or cylindrical coned-bottom tanks, which are expensive to install and require great attenti'on 'and careful regulation. rIhe thickener disclosed vin my U. S. Patent No.

867,958 of Dct. 15,1907, permits the use of .large units to replace the cones, and is in Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr., 2U, IQII.

Application tiled J une 5, i913. Serial No. 771,917.

ties a speed such as to stir up the liquid' and i prevent settling, if the speed at the center is sufficient to avoid solid packing of the thickened material. Furthermore the strains incident to the movement, by the sweeps, of

solid material deposited near the periphery become excessive.

I have found that in place of .the thickening tanks 8 to 20 feet deep usually used for this purpose, it is possible, without reducing the settling capacity, to substitute tanks so shallow that the space below the surface current or flow disturbance is practically eliminated. /In such a tank say three feet or less in depth, the solid matter is deposited with undiminished eiliciency from the flowing current in its passage through the' separating region, and by superposing a series of tanks one above the other and providing themwith common operating mechanism, I

produce a single separating unit, which is in edect made up of a series of superposed Aseparating regions 'and associated elements.

for collecting and removing the thickened material. Such a unit has a total settling area considerably larger than would other- Wise be feasible, and requires only a fraction of the Hoor space, building, operating mechanism and accessories otherwise needed.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown several embodiments of my invention.

Figure l shows a vertical central 'section'l through a separating apparatus embodying the invention in adeveloped form involving the use of a plurality of superposed cylindrical4 trays in a single inclosing tank. Fig. 2 is a detail View on `an enlarged scale showing particularly how the common `discharge pipe for the trays 1s related to said trays, and how the sweeps areA attached to and supported on said pipe. Fig. 3 1s a view similar to Fig. 1 of an apparatus in which the trays are vformed with inclined o r coned bottoms. Figs; 4 and 5 are d etail views on an enlarged scale showing different Iorms of sweeps. y Fig. 6 is a central vertical section through a further modification of the separating apparatus in which the discharge'trom the several trays 1s le ofi1 separately and may be separately contro led. Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7,-7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 shows a vertical central section o f a modied form of the apparatus, in which 3 trays or settling vessels.

` is a sectional ,view of a separating apparatus composed ofa plurality of superposed rectangular trays with traveling sweeps spaced apart on endless chains. Fig. 11

illustrates an arrangement within an inclosing tank of superposed inclined ti'ayswith reciprocating sweeps. Fig. 12 is a section on line 1,2-12 of Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 is a fragmentary detail plan showing the manner of connect-ing the reciprocating sweeps to the vertical supporting bars or channel irons.

-The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a cylindrical tank A 4within which a plurality of trays B, B, B2 are arranged. The tank A may be of large dimensions, say 12 feet high by 20 feet in diameter, b'ut these dimensions may be varied within wide limits. The tank is, of course, suitably supported on appropriate framework which, it is thought, is unnecessary to show in the drawings, and any desired number of trays within the limits of the dimensions of the tank may be used. The tank A has at the top an overiow launder a communicating with a discharge pipe a and at the bottom the tank is preferably, though not necessarily, formed with a depression or hopper a2 at the center of the tank which communicates with a valved discharge pipe C. Centrally. suspended within the tank A is a hollow shaft D which terminates at d near the bottom of the tank. This hollow shaft may be supported or suspended in any suitable way and it is revolved slowly by vany suitable driving mechanism E. The trays B, B, etc., are supported' within the tank A in any suitable way. As shown the tank A carries brackets b and the trays are provided with flanges or brackets bfwhieh rest on the brackets b. The trays are of somewhat less diameter than the tank and are ai'- ranged w'ithin the tank in suoli manner as to provide spaces X between their sides and the sides of the tank. The tank A is, of course, made strong enough in any suitable way to sustain the pressure of the weight of 5 liquid which it contains.- The trays may be made relatively light as the weight which they carry is comparatively small. The hollow shaft D extends centrally through the trays and each tray is preferably, though vnot necessarily, formed at the center with a depression or hopper F through which the hollow shaft extends.

In the apparatus shown, and as preferred, the shaft D carries slowly rotated sweeps Gr` for promoting or assisting in the discharge of the thickened material. Those 'means may be used for this purpose.

sweeps comprise radially extended arms g,-

or II H in Fig. 5, preferably carrying vanes or blades g', g2, (/3 or H2. The effect of`these sweeps, which are slowly rotated, is to promote or assist in the discharge of the thickened materials from the center of the trays through outlet pipes. It is only by the use of sweeps that it becomes possible to handle the slinies in substantially flat bottomed tanks. tanks of sufficient inclination, or more, they are notnecessary.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be observed that the sweeps G are supported from the. hollow shaft D by split hubs I of well-known construction, and adjustable braces J of well known foi-m are also employed for the purpose of lholding the conveyers in proper position.` The shaft D is provided with openings l to receive the thickened .material from each tray. These openings are preferably located ad-. jacent thel depressions or hoppei's F and the vanes g2 at the inner ends of the conveyer arms g are preferably enlarged and extend downward into said depressions or hoppei's for the purpose of assisting in the discharge through the openings d of the thickened material. The trays are separated from each other in'the manner shown and in order to shut off communication between a tray and the one immediately above it, I provide on the bottom of each hopperl F a Strip of rubber or other suitable material Ii which rests on the top-of the collar I. This will prevent the flow of slinies or pulp out of one hopper into a tray immediately bclow it or the flow of liquid upwardly from one tray into an adjacent hopper above it. The shaft D also carries sweeps vM similar to those before mentioned and operating in the lower portion of the tank A. In order to feed to the apparatus the pulp or other material to be clarified I preferably employ the devices shown, although other shown, however, the liquid to be treated is conveyed through a trough N to a box N where it is sub-divided. Gates ai, or their equivalent may be used to control the How of liquid from the trough N to the coinpartments in the box N. ment in the box N is connected by a pipe O with a perforated distributing ring or annular header O,'and each of the pipes 0 With coned -bottom i Each conipart-I Asv may, if desired, be provided with a valve I for regulating the flow. The valves shown are of conventional form, but other kinds 'of valves may be used and these valves may be differently located. In orderto avoid the entrapping of air in the liquid feed it is desirable to arr-ange the compartments of the owbox N at approximately the level of the tank overflow so that/there will always be some depth of liquid in said compartsolids drop to the bottom of the trays while the clear liquid rises and passes over the edge of each tray and then continues upwardly to the overflow launder a of the tank A. 'lfhe thickened material in each tray flows to the discharge orifices d of the hollow shaft l) through which shaft it descends. By reason of this construction, the thickened materials from the three superposed separating trays B, B and B2 is discharged into the lower portion of the sub.- jacent tank volume. The point of discharge is hereshown at d quite near thebottom of the tank, but it may be higher up if desired. 'lhe lower portion of the tank thus serves as a receptacle for the thickened materials coming from the overdow trays, and at the same time its upper portion serves as a fourth separating element'having its own flow-region for the dilute slimes supplied from the inlet header O immediately beneath the bottom tray. rlhis lower portion of the tankof large volume gives to the tank a certain' advantageous storage capacity and adds flexibility with respect to the degree of thickening which may be attained with a given material, the preliminary thickening taking place in the superposed trays, and in the upper portion of the subjacent tank vol ume, while the further and iinal thickening takes place in the lower'part of' the tank, and the finally thickened 'materials are dis- A charged with' the aid of the sweep M,

through an outlet pipe C. lt will be observed that the material collected in each tray does not pass to another tray but immediately passes to a commonr discharge pipe and that thev material'l collected on1 the bottom of the tank does not pass to another tray or tank but flows to a common discharge. By these improvements it will be observed that a very large and extended settling area is adorded within a small cubic space so that space is materially feconomized and the cost-of framework, housing, roofs, and machinery isgreatly reduced.

, 'ln Fig. 3 the constructiom'of the apparatus is similar in'most respects to that shown in 'Fig'. 1. lnthis case, however, the trays are shown as lbeing formed with inclined bottoms.

The use of coned bottom tanks becomes feasible Where the tanks can be nested within the outer tank of the unit as illustrated in this ligure, because by this arrangement the increase in vertical height incident to superposing coned bottom tanks is avoided. Furthermore, in this arrangement the eflfective length of the three lower separation current p aths is increased, the current of clear liquid flowing in 'each case from the central inlet header 0 along the under surface of the overlyin cone te the peripheral discharge, while t e thickened material flows oppositely to the subsurface dischar outlets therefor. 'llhe parts of the aaratus shownj in; Fig; d correspondin with. parts in Fig. l are similarly lettere'.

Figs. 6 and 7 represent a similar arran ement of superposed coned bottom ta s, but instead of providing for the discharge of the thickened Imaterialsfrom the individual trays into the lowerl portion of the tank through the central pipe D, the

discharge from the individual trays is kept separate, and is led od through the pipes llt controlled by the valves R', and the central tube D passes through the clos'- sure -comprising an annular mercury seal as shown.` lhis arrangement makes ossibl'e the individual control of the materlals discharged from each tray. l mayalso economize space and secure eciency in operation by the arrangement of apparatus shown in Fig. 8 where the tanks 'or trays are separately supported on a suitable frameworkA and the inclosing tank shown in Fig. 1 is omitted; As illustrated the tanks S are supported one above the other in a. suitable framework T, the details of which need not loe described as such details may be varied and the construction is suciently illustrated in the drawings. Each tra is of large diameter and comparatively s allow and each one is provided with an'overdow launder e for the clear liquid and with a discharge pipe U which communicates with ,an orice in the bottom of the -tank near the central portion thereof. JEach tank is separately supplied with liquid to be treated through pipes V provided with valves u and communicating `with a divided feed box lf. A shaft -W extends centrally through all the tanks and this shaft may bedriven by suitable driving mechanism. W terminates a short distance above the bottom of the lowermost tank and it is suitably supported or hung in bearings fw of 'any-suitv come in contact with the shaft and shall be confined in the space between the outer walls of the tank and the casing.- MaK-@11W Seals zu such. as shown in lFig. 15 may be substituted for these casin'gs. j ln order to promote o r assist in the discharge of the thickened material sweeps Gr similar in all respects to those hereinbefore described may be employed. 'llhe sweepsarel connected with\ shaft W by yokes or frames Y which are made sectlonal vor in vto The shaft able construction. Each tank is provided two parts as shown and bolted to the shaftAv and .to each of these frames Y is attacheda feed launder or overdower perforated at z for the delivery of the liquid. The launder Z supplying the lowermost tank may be supported in any suitable way.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 10 the several rectangular tanks 1 are supported in a framework 2, and each tank has a transverse supply launder or overflowIr header 3 at one end and a transverse overflow launder 4 at the opposite end, the supply headers being fed from the divided flow-box 5 through pipes 6 which may have control valves 7. Supported in suitable manner at each end of each tank is a shaftf) carrying a pair of sprocket wheels 10, one or both of the shafts being slowly driven from a common vertical drive shaft or shafts 11 through worms 12' and worm wheels 13. A pair of 'chains 14 run over the sprocket wheels 10 and carry spaced sweeps 15 as shown. The thickened material is discharged through the individual discharge spouts 16 converging tothe pipes 17 controlled by valves 18.4

In the arrangement ofFigs. 11, 12 and 13 the superposed trays 19 are supported in inclined position in the tank 20 by brackets 21 and transverse T-beams 22. rangement has in common with the conedbottom arrangement of Figs. 3 and 6, the `advantage'of long separating flowv region and opposed current How of the clear liquid and the thickened material respectively. The several'travs have at their ends depending aprons 23 which effectively serve to prevent the adniixture' of the outgoing thickened material from one tank with the incoming liquid in the subjacent tank. As shown the several trays discharge their thickened Qmaterial into the vertical space between the discharge maveasily be provided for. Eaeli tray has a reciprocating frame 25 carrying aseries of sweeps 26, the frames. being connected by the bracket arms 33, extending through slots 341 at about half the depth of the tray, to the vertical supporting bars 27 operated by the driven 'cam 29 through the levers 30, 31 and 32.

In the operation of the apparatus in any of its various forms the liquid to be treated is fed to the several headers through the supply pipes and the overflowing streams from the several trays are led oli. separately or united yas the case may be. The result is a plurality of superposed separating flow regions simultaneously operating Within the single unit. The discharge of the thickened materials takes place from the bottoms of the several trays, assisted by the 'slowly moving sweeps if necessary. By this expedient a large settling area is' obtained on a rela- This ar- I l Figs. 1, 3, G, 11 and 12, each of the separating regions, excepting the upper one which is open to inspection, is provided with a sampling cock Q, so that if the overiiow on top of the tank is cloudy, it is possible to determine in which of the separating regions the trouble arises. In the arrangements shown in Figs. 8 and 10, this is not necessary because the several flow-regions are -individually open to inspection.

ln all forms of the apparatus shown space is economized and the cost of installation and operation are largely reduced.' The apparatus is in each instance organized to operate continuously, but may be operated intermittently if desired. ln some respects the apparatus shown in 4`igs. S and l() has advantages as the behavior of the material in such apparatus may be more closely watched, but the other arrangements shown have the advantage that the height of the apparatus is reduced and the total discharge is at the top of the tank thereby conserving the mill head, which is an important point in the practical handling of the large volumes of material. Some lof the .arrangements have the further advantage of the added flexibility due to the subjacent tank volume beneath the superposed trays, but a like advantage` may be attained in the arrangement of' Figs. S and 10,l for example, by emptying the materials from the upper trays into the lower tray for final thickening and storage.

iVhat I claim is:

1. A separating-unit for the purpose described, comprising a plurality'of superposedsettling trays, a plurality of superposed sweeps positioned respectively immediately above the bottoms ofl the several trays and having a common support, mechanisin for moving the support to impart a slow sweeping movement to the several sweeps, an inlet header and an overflowv outlet at the upperpart of each tray, individually .controllable connections for supplying pulp to each of the headers, and a discharge outlet for the thickened pulp at the bottom of each tray.

2. A separating unit for the purpose described, comprising a plurality of superposed eircular settling trays, a vertical shaft extending centrally through said trays, a plurality of sweeps carried by said shaft and positioned respectively immediately niemeer t tray, and means tor preventing the downward low ot material trom tray totray along the shaft.

3. A separating unit tor the purpose described, comprising a plurality oi superposed circular settling trays, a hollow vertical shaft extending centrally throu h said trays, a plurality of sweeps carried y said shalt and positioned respectively immediately above the bottoms of said trays, mechanism for rotating said shaft to impart a slow sweeping movement to the several sweeps, an inlet and an overflow outlet at the upper part of each tray, connections for discharg- J ing the thickened material from the bottom ot each of the several trays, through the hollow shalt, and'means 'or preventing the'i downward flow oit material from tray to tray along the shalt.

l. A separating unit for the purpose described, comprising a tank containing a plurality ot superposed sweeps having a common support, mechanism lor moving the support to impart a slow sweeping movementto the several sweeps, the lowermost sweep being immediately above the bottom of the tank, a settling tray immediately beneath each sweep above the lowermost and inclosed by and overdowing into the tank, an inlet header at the upper part of each tray, and a discharge outlet for the thick-r ened4 material at the bottom ot each tray 'and at the bottom ot the tank. Y

5. A separating unit tor the purpose described, comprising a tank containing a plurality ol superposed sweeps having a common support, mechanism tor' moving the support to Vimpart aslow sweeping movement to the several sweeps, the lowermost sweep being immediately above the bottom ot the tank, a settling tray immediately beneath each sweep aboveithe lowermost and inclosed by Vand overdowing into the tank,

an inlet header at the upper part ot each tray, a discharge Voutlet for the thickened material at the bottom ol' each tray and at thebottomoii the tank, and connections tot" leading the discharge trom the several trays :the said lower n ortion serves asa nal thickinto the lower portion of the tank, whereby ening receptaclefor the preliminarily thickened discharge-trom `the' several trays.

titl

6. A separating unit lor the purpose described, comprising a tank having an overdow 'discharge at its upper portion, a plurality ot superposed settling trays with coned bottoms within the tank, and each having a'centrally arranged inlet header and a peripheral overllow into the' tank, means 7for feeding pulp to. the several headers,

'within the tank and from which the total overflow of claried liquid is discharged at the top of the tank. i

7. A separating unit for the purpose described,.comprising a tank having an over- How discharge at its 'upper portion, a pluconed bottoms within the tank vand each having a centrally arranged inlet header and a -peripheral overflow intothe tank, a vertical shaft extending centrally through said trays and carrying. a plurality of superposed sweeps respectively ositioned immediately above the bottoms o said trays, mechanism for rotating said shalt to impart a slow sweeping motion to said sweeps, 'means for teedmg pulp to the several headers, centrallyl arranged means :tor drawing od' the thickened pulp from the bottoms of the several trays, and means for preventing the downward ow oir' the pulp from tray to tray, 'whe eb there are established a plurality of in ependent superposed conical separating dow regions within the tank and trom which the total loverflow of clarified liquid is discharged at the top of the tank.

8. A separating unit. for the purpose described, comprising a tank having an overow dischargeat its upper portion, a plu, rality of superposed -preliminary settling trays within said tank and each having at its upper portion an inlet header and a corresponding overlow discharge, and connections or establishing an underflow of thickened material from each tray, said connections diseharging. into the tank below' the trays, means for preventing'the downward p dow of material 'from tray to tray, and connectionsffor withdrawing thickened material from 4the bottom ofthe tank, whereby vrality of superposed settling trays with the portion of the tank below the trays conel stitutes an underlying nal settling receptacle for the -preliminarily thickened discharge irom'the-several trays.-

9. 4An apparatus for separating finely divided solidsfrom liquids in which they are suspendedfcomprising a-tank, a plurality of inclinedfpartitions within the tank delining .a plurality of inclined settling How regions therein, an' inlet? header. a overdow outlet at the upper portion o/i/each dow region, means for drawing od the thickened material from the lower portion of each flow region, and means tor preventing the admixture ot the outgoing thickened material from each flow region 'with the adjacent incoming material to be separated.

' 10. An apparatus tor separating finely divided solids from liquids in which they are suspended, comprising a tank, a plurality of partitions within the tank defining a plurality ol settling flow regions therein, an inlet header and overflow outlet at the upper portion of each flow region, means for drawing oill the thickened material from the lower portion of each ow region, and means for preventing theadmixture of the outgoing thickened material from each flow region with the adjacent incoming material to be separated.

11. An apparatus for separating finely divided solids from liquids in which they are suspended, comprising a flow trough in which the flow is divided into a plurality of parallel currents, a plurality of superposed settling trays each having in its upper portion an inlet header and a corresponding overflow outlet for the clarified liquid'and at its bottom means for establishing an underflow discharge of the thickened material, and a conduit connecting each of the several inlet headers to one of the parallel divisions o f the flow trough.

12. An apparatus for separating finely divided solids from `liquids vin which they are suspended, comprising a flow trough in which the .flow is divided into a plurality of parallel currents, a tank containing a plurality of superposed settling trays each having in its upper portion an inlet header and an overflow into the tank and at its bottoni connections for establishing an underflow discharge of the thickened material, a conduit connecting each of the several inlet headers to one of the parallel divisions of the flow trough, and an overflow discharge for clarified liquid at the top of the tank.

13. A separating unit for the purpose described, comprising a tank, a plurality of superposed inlet headers, within the tank and means for feeding thereto the liquid to be treated, means corresponding to each header for separately collecting the thickened material and dra'wing off the clear liquid whereby a plurality of independent superposed separating regions are established within the tank, a sampling cock for each separating region and means for drawing`off the thickened material from the collecting places.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

vin presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN V. N. DORR. Witnesses:

H. M. LEWIS, M. A. BILL. 

